Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!motcid!keating From: keating@motcid.UUCP (Edward Keating) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: HELP - Nintendo on the blink Message-ID: <5663@bone34.UUCP> Date: 7 Dec 90 15:12:46 GMT References: <48191@prls.UUCP> <10478@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> <48236@prls.UUCP> Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Heights, IL Lines: 31 In article , esmith@goofy.apple.com (Eric Smith) writes: > In article <48236@prls.UUCP> gordon@prls.UUCP (Gordon Vickers) writes: > > > Thanks Robin, that's nice to know. However ..... > > It also blinks when any cartridge is inserted. > > Sounds like the "copy protection" chip has died. There is one of these in > the base unit and one in each cartridge. If they can't handshake, the one > in the base resets the uP about once a second. I agree that the game is not able to talk to the cartridge. If your Nintendo game has been abused by the younger members of the family you might find out that slamming the cartridge into the slot was wrong. I found that some cartridges PC board would move slightly and thus not make good contact when placed into the machine. Pulling on the board with a pair of thin nose pliers seemed to correct those cartridges. Additionally, pushing the cartridge in too far can be a problem. The most reliable position for the cartridge is to be pushed in just far enough to close the door. If the door rubs against the cartridge when closing, then you have the ideal position. (The significance of this is important if you play one of the monolithic games that take several hours to get interesting. i.e. Zelda/Link, etc.) Pushing the cartridge in too far reduces the spring contact pressure on the pc board within the cartridge and thus causes problems. Contact cleaners help a small bit, but cartridge placement helps the most. -- Ed Keating, Motorola,General Systems Sector, 1501 W. Shure Drive uunet!motcid!keating Arlington Heights, Il 60004 Where did Worf (It is a good day to die.. ) go to school to learn Klingon?